Imagine carrying a wedding dress and hiking to an undeniably beautiful spot on another continent, while having a foolproof hairdo, and being just a tad nervous about seeing the groom, and hoping that the weather holds out long enough for the spectacular photos that actually did come to fruition! Such was the situation of Brianne Fitzpatrick and Andy Wickersham on September 14, 2023. Having a picturesque elopement in Switzerland is the least we could expect from the adventurous couple – after all, Andy planned a surprise engagement the year before in Greece… on a beach… and produced the ring he had been carrying around in his backpack for a week. From the moment they met, they both knew that they were not a “cookie-cutter” couple. They both thrive in the outdoors, hike religiously and relentlessly, love traveling so much that they actually can’t stay home for long, and crave other cultures and lands to help shape who they are. While they are both from Kansas City, they now reside in Denver in order to be closer to the mountains, air, and the sun. They have developed their work lives and their personal lives to be centered around the relationships they have with each other and with nature.
Enter Henry Tieu Photography. Henry runs a business of a trio of Seattle-based photographers who specialize in, “Honest storytelling, candid moments, and soulful portraits in breathtaking landscapes.” Brianne’s Instagram search produced Henry’s work, and she knew she had found the perfect partner to help make her travel/wedding dreams come true. Having traveled the world together already, the pair had no intention of staying home to wed in a traditional fashion. With families informed, they began the process of planning an elopement, which is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but ideally suited for them.
Henry, Sergio, and Nick believe deeply in the value of elopement and the impact of a foreign (or domestic) land with a stunning backdrop, where the commitment of love will be captured as never seen before or after. Henry is a former cardiac nurse, which has given him a particular lens through which he sees the fragile moments of life. “Follow your heart, it has brought you to this day. Your wedding day is not anyone else’s. Moments are fleeting.”
Doing business with Henry is akin to taking the Myers Briggs personality test, lots of questions and probing so that intention becomes reality. “What kind of celebration is meaningful? Who do you want to share it with? What traditions matter most? Timeline? Public or private? What do you most want to remember about the day?” Everything the trio of camera buffs does is about relationships and storytelling.
Brianne and Andy felt an instant connection with Henry and they said of him, “He is the utmost professional. We had a lot of communication about how our day would look and what we wanted.” After considering Patagonia, Canada, and Switzerland for their elopement destinations, Henry steered them to Switzerland, and the planning commenced. Henry is as much a travel agent, adventure guide, and attendant, as he is a photographer. Once the choice was made of where to be in Switzerland, the date happened to align with the couple’s first date anniversary.
Once all of the personal questions have been answered by the client, this is the time when Henry’s brain kicks into overdrive. Some of the answers he provides are guideposts for the intendeds: “From a photography perspective, the people in your photos matter as much as where you are. The place selected should matter to the couple. The traditions highlighted inform the choice of photographs taken. Timing of photographs matters – small details matter, lighting matters. And, be honest, how much support does the couple need the day of the wedding? More support means less worry.”
By the time Brianne and Andy arrived at their selected spot on the morning of their wedding, the weather turned cloudy and foggy. Well, let’s try option two! Relocate, carry dress again, find the spot, weather is clear, until it wasn’t. Okay, time for option three. Carry dress again, find the third spot – and it’s magical – the absolutely perfect place in the perfect light with the incredible Alps in the background. And, the bride and groom were not stressed. Why? Because there were just five people to move… no vendors, no cake, no timelines, just Henry making sure the day was what the couple envisioned. When they asked Henry how he got the third option to be so perfect, he replied, “I came up yesterday and hiked all three options, just so we would be prepared.” Wow.
The key to a wedding fit for lifetime memories includes the power of relationships, a compelling visual story, and authenticity. As Henry says in his website verbiage, “Nothing is done just for the sake of it, but because it feels honest and intentional to who you really are.” Brianne and Andy agree and added, “We have no regrets! We would do it the same way again, do what you want to do on your day!”
For more information, visit henry-tieu.com.
Photo Credit: Henry Tieu Photography
Featured in the May 2, 2026 issue of The Independent
By Anne Potter Russ
